Vaginal Foreign Body in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.
A vaginal foreign body is an object that gets stuck in your child's vagina. Some examples are wadded toilet paper, toys, and crayons.
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DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:
Call your child's doctor or gynecologist if:
- Your child has a fever or chills.
- Your child's symptoms do not go away in 3 to 5 days.
- Your child has abdominal pain and cramps.
- Your child has pain in the lower back or side.
- Your child's skin is red, itchy, or has a new rash.
- Your child has a hard time urinating or urinates more often than usual.
- You think your child was sexually abused.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
Medicines:
Your child may need any of the following:
- Over-the-counter creams or ointments may be recommended. Examples include petroleum jelly, zinc creams, or hydrocortisone creams. These will help decrease itching and inflammation.
- Antibiotics help prevent or treat a bacterial infection.
- Hormone cream may heal scratches or wounds in your child's vagina.
- Steroid cream helps decrease redness and swelling.
- Give your child's medicine as directed. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell the provider if your child is allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs your child takes. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why they are taken. Bring the list or the medicines in their containers to follow-up visits. Carry your child's medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Help your child manage a vaginal foreign body:
The following may help relieve symptoms from the vaginal foreign body or from procedures used to remove it:
- Have your child use a sitz bath. Fill a bathtub with 4 to 6 inches of warm water. You may also use a sitz bath pan that fits inside a toilet bowl. Have your child sit in the sitz bath for 15 minutes each day, or as directed. The warm water may help decrease pain and swelling.
- Tell your child not to use douches other products that may irritate the vagina. Examples include bubble baths and perfumed soaps. The vagina is delicate and easily irritated. Ask if it is okay for your child to use tampons during monthly periods. Your child may need to use pads instead until the symptoms go away.
Help your child prevent an infection:
- Teach your child proper handwashing. Teach your child to use soap and water. Your child needs to wash before preparing or eating food, and after using the bathroom. Older children may use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Teach your child to wipe from front to back. Your child needs to do this after urinating or having a bowel movement. This will help prevent germs from getting into the vagina.
- Keep your child's genital area clean. Wash the area around your younger child's vagina each day. Use mild, unscented soap. Let the area air dry before your child gets dressed. Teach your older child how to keep the area clean.
- Tell your child not to leave tampons in for longer than recommended. A tampon should never stay in the vagina for longer than 8 hours.
Follow up with your child's doctor or gynecologist within 7 days, or as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Further information
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